Rayana
Ameeroedien - Founder
Biography
A dynamic business and sports woman who has taken
the South African fight industry by storm… Rayana Ameeroedien
started her fighting career more than 10 years ago while studying
Psychology at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South
Africa. She began her training in a gym full of professional boxers
and kickboxers, mainly heavyweights including the likes of heavyweight
world champion, Mike Bernardo. Her initial intention to keep fit
and build confidence soon turned into a love for full contact fighting.
After a number of amateur kickboxing, boxing and Muay Thai fights
she turned pro and won the title of South African Muay Thai Bantamweight
Champion in 2001. Rayana’s passion for Muay Thai escalated
after a visit to Thailand to train with Thai champion Sakmonkol
at the ISS gym in Pattaya and has developed her skills over the
years with annual trips to Thailand ever since. She gained valuable
coaching experience through opportunities to travel to some of the
world’s best Muay Thai boxing gyms in Thailand, Switzerland,
Croatia, Malaysia, the UK and Hong Kong. Ray now has her sites set
on training camps in Holland, Australia, Japan and the USA which
she feels will add to her knowledge and confidence as a trainer.
In 2008 Rayana won her 1st world title
under the World Professional Muay Thai Federation organization in
South Africa when she fought Nong Karn for the second time, winning
by knockout in the second round at the packed CTICC (Cape Town International
Convention Centre). The two women fought for the second time after
a nail-biting first face off in Thailand going the full 5 rounds
which saw Nong Karn winning on a close points decision in her home
town. Rayana has since gone from strength to strength and is by
far the most established professional female fighter, trainer and
ambassador for Muay Thai in South Africa. She has been making waves
on the international fight circuit for years and been highly successful
as a promoter hosting events at prestigious venues in Cape Town
including Ratanga Junction, the CTICC, the Royal Cape Yacht Club,
Table Bay Hotel, The Vineyard Hotel, to name a few. She has personally
trained some of South Africa's most successful fighters including
the likes of Irshaad Sayed, Ferial Ameeroedien and Ncedo Gomba.
Rays amateur fighters continue their dominance on the local fight
scene since 2001. Rayana is affiliated with well-known fighters
including 7x World Heavyweight Champion Ramazan "The Punisher"
Ramazanov and has trained with the likes of Buakaw, 3x K-1 Max Champion
and Thailand's most famous Muay Thai fighter. With a wealth of experience
under her belt established over the last 14 years Rayana still finds
time to compete whenever possible. She has recently turned her attention
to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and will compete in her first MMA fight
under the guidance of Stanley Phan during 2013.
RAYS Muay Thai Academy has provided coaching for
hundreds of men, women and children for fitness over the years and
is proud to have developed both South African and World Champions
since 1999. Rayana received her professional promoter’s license
in 2006 and has directly contributed to the growing popularity of
Muay Thai in South Africa – she is the only fight promoter
to have ALL her promotions (tournaments), both professional and
development, broadcast on national television. Rayana founded SAMO
(South African Muay Thai Organization) which works closely with
the WPMF (World Professional Muay Thai Federation) in promoting
and sanctioning professional Muay Thai tournaments in South Africa.
In 2009 she initiated the amateur leg of the organization, SAMDO
(South African Muay Thai Development Organization) to facilitate
the development of the sport in the country and to provide opportunities
for young up and comping fighters.In 2008 she secured Thai Airways
as a main sponsor and continues to work with only the best hotels
in South Africa and Thailand. Rayana and her fighters are dedicated
to a special project coaching street children at no charge. The
team regularly visit local schools to perform exciting Muay Thai
demonstrations and motivational speaking. The benefit for learners:
education on safety and the importance of saying no to drugs. Rayana
has become a spokesperson for women’s rights and features
the slogan “WOMEN STAND UP” at all tournaments. It is
a personal goal to see women fighters enjoy better exposure and
she has been very active in promoting talented female fighters both
locally and internationally. In 2007 Rayana started FIGHT GIRLS
SOUTH AFRICA, South Africa’s first all-women martial arts
tournament. For the first time women fighters were featured on a
fight bill as the MAIN attraction. The presence of feminine but
tough women in the ring participating in brutal full contact fights
amazed spectators. The event has become so popular that a documentary
on Muay Thai and the local and international women fighters promoted
by TRFC has been initiated.
Rayana’s achievements include being a finalist
in the 2006 Extraordinary Women Awards hosted by the City of Cape
Town with Mayor Helen Zille as the guest of honour (November ’06)
and voted as one of Cosmopolitan Magazine’s 30 Most Awesome
Women (Dec ‘06 issue). She has appeared on TV programmes including
DSTV’s Kwela, SABC’s World Of Winners, often appears
on SABC 2’s Women In Sport programme promoting Muay Thai;
and ‘Power Within’ on SABC3 received the rights to interview
and broadcast her world title fight in July 2008.
Her most recent achievements include a nomination
for the Shoprite/Checkers Woman Of the Year Award (May ’08)
and a spot on Sports Illustrated Magazine’s 10 “Beauties
of Sport” (June’08 issue).
In November 2008 she was nominated as a finalist
for the SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation Olympic Committee)
Sports woman of the year award, alongside swimming sensation Natalie
Du Toit; and made South African history when she won the WPMF Womens’
World Muay Thai title in July 2008.
Articles
Fair Lady Magazine
You Magazine: page
1 | page 2
Edgars club Magazine
Women's Value Magazine
Sports Action cover
Cape Argus
Community Newspapers
Cosmopolitan
Magazine
Pantene advert
Mango Airlines: cover
| article
People's Post
Sports Illustrated
Rootz Africa
Magazine
Foschini Club Magazine: mag1
| mag2
Flatnote Magazine
The Daily Voice
Oprah Magazine
|